Cruising is more popular than ever, and the appeal is obvious: an all-inclusive vacation on a floating resort hotel with great ocean views.

According to the latest figures from trade publication Cruise Industry News, the three busiest cruise ports in the world are in Florida and the absolute busiest, Miami, welcomed 4.8 million passengers in 2016. Rounding out the top 10 are Cozumel, Shanghai, Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Italy), Nassau, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands of Spain — but let’s take a closer look at the top-ranked U.S. ports and the best ways to get to them.

No.1: Port Miami. Fly to Miami International (MIA), about 3 miles away.

No. 2: Port Canaveral. Fly to Orlando International (MCO), about 45 miles away.

No. 12: Port of Galveston. Fly to one of two Houston airports: William P. Hobby (HOU), about 40 miles away, or George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), about 72 miles away.

No. 21: Port of New Orleans. Fly to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY), about 16 miles away.

Once you choose a cruise, start planning travel to the port:

• Give yourself plenty of time. If the ship departs at 9 a.m., don’t plan to fly in at 7 a.m., even if the port is only a couple of miles from the airport. Flights get delayed all the time (storms, mechanical issues) and if you’re not there when the ship leaves port you’ll be out of luck and, given that cruises are non-refundable, a lot of money. Consider arriving the day before the cruise departs, or even a few days before and make the port city part of a longer vacation. There are plenty of attractions for all ages in southern Florida, and other port cities, too.

• Compare nearby airports. Before you automatically book a flight to the port’s closest airport, check prices to that one plus nearby airports. For example, if your ship departs the Port of Miami, look at fares to Miami but also check Fort Lauderdale, which is only 25 miles farther away and might be significantly cheaper. These round-trip fares — for weekday travel in May — were found late last week on Farecompare.com:

Running the full width of the ship, Skywalkers was removed from Grand Princess a few years back, but still exists in this form aboard sister-ships Star Princess, Golden Princess and Caribbean Princess.
Aaron Saunders

Princess Cruises’ Grand Class ships were so big that even the officers on the Navigation Bridge, shown here, had to use telephones to call from one bridge wing to another, which are situated 158 feet apart.
Aaron Saunders

These big ships are particularly noteworthy for the small spaces that give them the intimate feeling that was present on the ships of the past, but without sacrificing any amenities or features.
Princess Cruises

... or enjoy the (digital) view from Royal Caribbean’s innovative “Virtual Balcony” staterooms: an inside stateroom with a digital LED screen that mimics the view from an actual balcony.
Royal Caribbean

• Fly into one city, depart from another city. Before you book flights, be sure to check your cruise itinerary carefully; the ship may leave from one port but end up in another. This is not uncommon for cruises and here’s where you need a two-pronged strategy to find the best fares.

First, find and compare fares using a "multi-city" itinerary: Depart city A, arrive city B; then depart city C, arrive city A.

Then, find and compare fares for two one-way trips: Trip No. 1 - depart city A and arrive city B; trip No. 2 - depart city C and arrive city A.

Take a look at these May fares for a passenger in Los Angeles who will take an Alaska cruise. The ship departs from the Anchorage area and ends its voyage in Vancouver.

Two separate one-way flights, found on a comparison search site, for travel in May:

Note that separate one-way flights are not always cheaper; you always have to compare.

• Don’t forget transportation between airport and port. Some cruise lines include an airport shuttle between the terminal and the ship in the overall package price; check to see if your line offers this or gives any options for getting from plane to port. If not, see if the airport offers port shuttles or consider a taxi, Uber or Lyft. If you are entitled to a free shuttle ride, be sure you nail down where to wait for it (and how long you’ll have to wait); some airport websites like Miami’s list shuttle pick-up locations for various cruise lines by terminal.

Royal Caribbean's next ship, Symphony of the Seas, will be the largest cruise vessel ever built. At 230,000 tons, it'll be slightly bigger than Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas (shown here), the current record holder.
Michel Verdure

A sister ship to Norwegian Cruise Line's eight-month-old Norwegian Joy, to be called Norwegian Bliss, is scheduled to debut in April. Carrying 4,000 passengers at double occupancy, it'll sail in Alaska and the Caribbean.
Norwegian Cruise Line

Among the most notable features of Celebrity Edge will be Magic Carpet, a movable bar, lounge and entertainment space that will be cantilevered over the starboard side of the ship. The size of a tennis court, it'll rise and descend 13 stories with passengers on board.
Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Edge also will feature an unusual, three-deck-high lounge and entertainment space at its back called Eden. It will be a place for everything from culinary classes to dining to aerialist shows.
Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Edge's Resort Deck will have an untraditional, asymmetrical location that offers a distinct resort-style atmosphere. Passengers can soak up the sun at the outward-facing pool, take a dip in the 25-yard lap pool, relax in a martini glass shaped hot tub, sprint along the two-deck jogging track, enjoy larger-than-life art installations and chill in a spacious cabana.
Celebrity Cruises

Another set of giant suites on Celebrity Edge will be its six Iconic Suites. Each will come with a nearly 700-square-foot outdoor lounge area that sits above a wing of the bridge. The outdoor lounge areas will have a Jacuzzi, sun chairs and a nearly 270 degree view of the ocean.
Celebrity Cruises

The six Iconic Suites on Celebrity Edge will offer stunning views, thanks to panoramic windows enveloping their entire dining rooms, living rooms and bedrooms. Each Iconic Suite will measure about 5,000 square feet, including their balcony space. They'll each have two bedrooms and two full baths.
Celebrity Cruises

Another category of suite on Celebrity Edge will be its two-bedroom, two-bathroom Penthouse Suites. Part of new Suite Class at Celebrity, they'll feature plush king-sized cashmere mattresses, large soaking tubs on a balcony, large dual walk-through showers and expansive walk-in closets.
Celebrity Cruises

New on Celebrity Edge will be the Edge Stateroom with Infinite Veranda. With the touch of a button, the cabin's far wall will open up to offer open-air access to the room's balcony and the sea.
Celebrity Cruises

Holland America has a new ship on order for 2018 to be called Nieuw Statendam. Carrying 2,650 passengers at double occupancy, it'll be a sister to the one-year-old Koningsdam (shown here).
Holland America Line

A sister ship to Carnival Vista to be called Carnival Horizon is scheduled to debut in April 2018. Like Vista, it'll measure 133,500 tons and carry 3,954 passengers, based on double occupancy.
Carnival Cruise Line

A photo taken in July 2017 during the construction of Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas shows the ship's Boardwalk area coming together. The amusement zone will be home to an "aqua theater" (foreground), rock climbing walls (background), a classic carousel and other fun-focused activities.
Royal Caribbean International

A photo taken in May 2017 shows Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas under construction at the STX shipyard in St. Nazaire, France. At 230,000 tons, Symphony will be the world's largest cruise ship when it debuts in April 2018.
Royal Caribbean

Shown here under construction at the STX Europe shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas will boast several new features that are not found on Harmony of the Seas as well as additional cabins, executives have said.
Royal Caribbean